Electrical signaling device.



J. G. SGHAFER.

ELECTRICAL SIGNALING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 24, 1909.

' Patented Feb. 7, 1911.

7?) 61622226272 a en a, WAsHINcTaN, n. c.

JEY GLENN SCHAFER, OF BRIGHTON, IOWA.

ELECTRICAL SIGNALING DEVICE.

ossaos.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. *7, 1911.

Application filed May 24, 1909. Serial No. 49?,895.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J in Gnnxx Sonar-ma, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brighton, in the county of ashington and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful .lnipr vements in ILectrical Signaling Devices, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to ill. accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to a signaling device for mail boxes and has for its object the prmluction of a signaling device, which is simple in construction and consists of a comparatively small number of parts.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved signaling device for mail boxes which will facilitate the operation of a signal when mail has been placed in a box.

IVith these and other objects in view this invention consists of certain novel constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of my device showing the con nection of the same to a. house; Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective of the contact device; Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the same; Fi g. l is a section taken on line i4t of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a detail. view of a modification of the means for securing the transverse connecting member to the spring-contact members.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, 1 designates the box, shown in dotted lines, in the bottom of which is adapted to be positioned the insulating base 2, which comprises a body portion 3 adapted to be supported upon lugs, or transversely-extending supporting members l. These supporting members 4; support the bottom or body portion 3 from engagement with the bottom of the box. A plurality of spring-contact members 5 are secured at one end to the body portion 3 by means of binding posts (3, which pass through the body portion 3 to the under side thereof. A plurality of longitudinally-extending rods 7 are adapted to be secured to the upper face of the springcontact members 5 and secure the same together. Upon the upper face of the springcontact members 5 are formed a ,plurality of bulged portions 8, through which are adapted to be positioned the wires or longitudinally-extending members 7. Upon the opposite edge of the body portion 3 are also positioned binding posts 9, which are adapted to form a contact with the outer ends 10 of the spring-contact members 5 and thereby close thecircuit as hereinafter described. The binding posts 6 are con nected by means of a conductor 11 and the binding posts 3) are connected by means of a conductor 12.

As shown in the diagram in Fig. 1, I, preferably, employ a signal, or gong 13 positioned in some portion of the circuit. I also employ a switch 1 1 to open and close the circuit, when it is desired to know if there is any mail in'the box. As soon as a letter, or other mail, is dropped in the box 1, the weight of the same will cause the spring members 5 to contact with the binding post 9 and thereby close the circuit, provided the switch 1% is closed, and, therefore, the current will pass through the conductor 15 to the binding posts 6, through the contactmcans and out through the binding posts 9, through the conductor 16 to the gong 18, through'the switch 1st, through the conductor 17 and back to the battery thereby cruising a complete circuit and cansing the gong to sound, thereby notifying the occupants of the house that mail has been dropped in the box 1. The switch 14; may only be closed, when it is desired to know whether there is mail in the box, and, therefore, as soon as the switch has been closed and the signal has been sounded the switch can again be opened, and thereby preserve the batteries and prevent the same from wasting away. lVhen the switch is closed and the gong is not sounded, the person operating the switch will readily know that no mail has been. dropped in the box. It will be obvious that it is not neces sary for all of the contact members 5 to form a contact, as the circuit will be closed as soon as one of the spring-contact members forms a contact with any one of the binding posts.

From the foregoing description, it will be readily seen that I have provided a simple and efficient signaling device to be placed in rural free delivery boxes, which are often placed at a distance from the dwelling, and thereby allow any one in the house to know whether the box contains any mail.

In Fig. 5, I have shown a modification of the means for securing the rods 7 to the spring-contact members 5. The contact member 5 is provided with an upwardly bent, or bowed, portion (5, formed from the body of the spring-contact member 5, and through the bulged. or bowed portion 6 are adapted to be passed the transverselvextending members 7. and said rods are firmly clamped in said bulged portion.

hat I claim is:

The combination with a receptacle having a bottom; of an insulated plate placed upon said bottom, a series of spring fingers extending across said receptacle each having one end secured to said plate, said ends being all alined on the plate, spaced lugs on each of said fingers, each lug being provided with an opening extending trans- \"crsely of the lG'SPOCtlVQ finger, the lugs on each linger being in alinelnent with the lugs on the remaining fingers, and yieldable rods extending through the openings in said lugs and terminating adjacent the ends of said plate, a series of contact terminals mounted upon said plate, there being one of said terminals located beneath each of the lingers a wire connected to all of said terminals, a second Wire connected to said lingers, and a signal and battery connected to said Wires.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afl ix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JEY GLENN SCHAFER. \Vitnesses:

A. D. LONG, S. A. MYERS. 

